Dysthymic
Disorder is characterized by chronic depression, but with less
severity than a major depression. The essential symptom for dysthymic
disorder is an almost daily depressed mood for at least two years,
but without the necessary criteria for a major depression. Low
energy, sleep or appetite disturbances and low self-esteem are
usually part of the clinical picture as well. The diagnostic
criteria is as follows:

On the majority of days for 2 years or more, the patient reports
depressed mood or appears depressed to others for most of the
day.

Some disorders have similar or even overlapping symptoms. The
clinician, therefore, in his diagnostic attempt has to differentiate
against the following disorders which need to be ruled out to
establish a precise diagnosis.

Psychotherapy
( both Group & Individual ) is the treatment for choice for
this psychological problem. Often, antidepressant medication is
also recommended because of the chronic nature of the depression
in dysthymia. Family-centered approaches differ from individual
methods in their direct focus on the "role of the sick member"
in the family system rather than on the symptoms of the identified
patient. Psychotherapy is used to treat this depression in several
ways:

First, supportive
counseling can help to ease the pain, and can address the feelings
of hopelessness.

Second,
cognitive therapy is used to change the pessimistic ideas, unrealistic
expectations, and overly critical self-evaluations that create
the depression and sustain it. Cognitive therapy can help the
depressed person recognize which life problems are critical,
and which are minor. It also helps them to learn how to accept
the life problems that cannot be changed.

Third, problem
solving therapy is usually needed to change the areas of the
person's life that are creating significant stress, and contributing
to the depression. Behavioral therapy can help you to develop
better coping skills, and interpersonal therapy can assist in
resolving relationship conflicts.